Skate



A. L. FLAMM June l 7, 1941.

SKATE Filed NOV. 17, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENToR. ALEXANDER L. FLAMM June 17, 1941. A, FLAMM SKATE Filed NOV. 17, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENToR. ALEXANDER L. FLAMM BY A TTORNEY.

Patented June 17, 1941 UNITEU STATES PATENT GFFICE v SKATE Alexander L. Flammp'Fairfield, Conn. Application November 17, 1337, Serial No. 175,094

Claims.

tion with the accompanying drawings wherein A satisfactory embodiments of the invention are shown. However, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the details disclosed but includes all suchv variations and modications as fall Within the spiritof the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a side elevational View of my improved skate;

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view therethrough taken as along the line 2-2 of Fig, 1;

Fig. 3 is a bottomplan View showing a slight modification; I

Fig. 4 is a rear elevational view of the skate of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional View of the skate, the View being on a larger scale;

Fig. 6 is a view showing an adjusting tool or key to be used in adjusting the skates;

Fig. 'l is a perspective-View of the skate of Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is a transverse sectional view as along the line 8--8 of Fig. 7; l

Fig. 9 is a transverse sectional view taken as along theline 9 9 of Fig. 7; l

Fig. 10 is an expandedview showing a wheel or roller mounting employed;

Fig. 11 is a perspective view showing a portion of a housing forming part of a wheel or rollerr mounting; and

Fig. 12 is a similar view sho-winganother part l of said housing. f

Referring in detail to the drawings and at first more particularly to the vform of the invention shown in Figs. 1 and 2 my improved skate in-` cludes a forward section generally designated I0 and a rearward section generally designated I These two sections are adjustable toward and from one another to shorten or increase the effective length of vthebody. Y Section II includes a bed portion I2 4and an upstanding guard portion I3 shown as provided with slots I4 for the passage of securing straps or the like (not shown).

Also section II includes la depending skirt-like portion I5 which as shown best in Fig, 3, is generally circular, and to a large extent encloses a ground engaging roller 0r Wheel I5. Aboutpor- 28o-#11am tion I5 is a relatively heavy bumper Il of rubber lor the like and such bumper covers a joint between the bed portion I2, guard portion I3 and skirt I5 as will later more fully appear. On the rear of section II there may be mounted 'a reiiector or the like I8. While the mounting of wheel I6 will later be set forth in detail here it is noted that the same is mounted by blocks I9 of rubber or the like, the shaft of each wheel at each side of said wheel being mounted between an upper and lower pair of such blocks.

Forward section I0 includes a bed portion 20 above which extends an upwardly and rearwardly curved toe housing or guard portion 2| open at its rear side for the insertion of the toe of a shoe therein. Somewhat similar skirt-like guard portions 22 and 23 depend from the lower side of the bed portion 20 toward each side thereof and are connected at their forward ends whereby various parts located at the underside of the bed 20 (and now to be described) are enclosed at their sides and also at their forward ends. A bumper 24 of heavy rubber or the like encloses the joint between bed 20, housing 2| and skirt portions 22 and 23 and the details of such joint will later be given.

A bumper 25 also of heavy rubber or the like is carried vertically up the center of housing 2| and downwardly at the juncture of the housing portions 22 and 23. At the Iforward side of housing portion 2| there is mounted a lens 26 in the rear of which there is located a bulb 21 wired to be energized from a battery 28 or from a generator 29 at the will of the user. With the battery and generator both present the arrangement may be such that while the skater is not in motion the bulb 21 will be energizedfrom the battery and when he is in motion the dynamo is directly energizing the bulb.

The periphery of a ground engaging wheel or roller 3| engages a pulley 30 on the shaft of the dynamo 29 and serves thereby to drive the generator while the skater is in motion. Wheel 3| is mounted on a shaft the ends of which are received between rubber or other cushioning blocks I8 as in the case of the wheel on skate section II and the details of this mounting will later be given when specifically considering Figs. 10, 11 and 12.

In addition to the ground engaging wheel 3| the forward skate section Ill mounts a ground engaging wheel 32 arranged laterally and rearwardly of the wheel 3|. Wheel 32 is of a diameter smaller than that of wheel 3| and comprises a balancing wheel only as it usually will be off the ground while the skater is in motion and is, generally speaking, used only as a balancing medium while the wearer of the skates is standing but not in motion. This wheel 32 is mounted in the same manner as the other wheels and as above suggested the details of the mounting will later be given.

On its inner side the upper housing 2| is lined with leather or the like as at 33 in Fig, 2. Forward section I is provided with clamping means whereby the skate may be attached to the sole of a shoe and as here shown such clamping means includes a pair of clamping elements 3,54 extending through slots 35 in bed 26 and having their lower ends off-set and tapped for the reception of a transversely extending screw 36. Such screw toward its opposite ends is oppositely threaded whereby on turning of the screw in one direction the clamps are fed toward one another and on turning of the screw in the opposite-direction the clamps are opened. The end 31 of the screw 36 is shaped to be received in a socket 38 in a key or tool 3 9 whereby the screw may be easily turned to adjust the clamps.

The skateof Figs. 3 and 4, is thefsame as that of Figs.,1 and 2 with the exception that in the skate 4|) of Figs. 3 and 4 the forward and rearward sections I8 ,and 'are adapted to beadjusted toward and from one another by the turn.- ing of a screw 4| vextending longitudinally of the skate. Screw 4| includes an enlarged portion 42 abutting against a 1ug 43 carried by section andthescrew is threaded througha tapped lug 44 on the section I0. The end 45 of the. screw is exposed atthe rear .of theskate and is shaped to be received'. in the socket 38 oftool 39 by means of which the screw may be turnedin the. desired direction for shortening and lengthening of the skate..

The mounting of the various rollers or wheels is shown in Figs. 10, 11 and l2. As shown in such g'ures Lthe wheel designated 46 is mounted on a shaft' 41 extending from opposite sides of the wheel.` The ends of the shaft 41 are received in bushings 48 mounted in blocks 49 of rubberor other yielding material. While the blocks are shownY in one piece it will be apparent that they may each comprise a pair of parts, as upperand lower parts,` as suggested in Figs. l through 4.

WashersSil may b`e interposed between the wheels andthe bushing es if desired. i p

WhenA the'wheel, shaft, bushings and blocks are assembledzinto a unit they are then mounted in a' housing includinga lower'partvl and an upper part' 52. Part 5| includes'.V sidewalls 53 provided withopposed channels 54 and 55 open at their upper ends. Th'e'assembled unit may be' slippedinto place in the housing part 5| through the upper s ide thereof, the blocks'49 being received in the channels 54 and 55V which are of ay depth to receive the blocks and have the wheels in place between theY blocks. When the; unit is inf place in the part 5| the housing part 52 is appliedand it includes anH arcuate part 56 to extend over the upperl side of the wheel and side lugs 51 to enter the upper ends of the channels 54 and 55 andfto therein engage the upper edges of the blocks 49 to hold the blocks in place against the lower end walls 58 of such channelsj Each housing part 5| includes lugs 59 by means of which the part is mounted inthe skate as will later (when considering Figs. 5, '1, 8 and 9) appear.

Referring now to the form of the skate shown in Figs. 5, '1, 8 and 9 the same comprises a forward section 6U and a rearward section 6|. The latter section includes a bed 62 the forward portion of which is U-shaped in transverse section (see Fig, 8) including depending side flanges 63. Elxtending upwardly from the bed 62 is a rear wall 64 and about the same and depending therefrom and the bed is a skirt-like portion 65. Portion 65 may be attached in any desired manner but as here shown: is Welded or soldered to the portion 64 as at 66.

Mounted in the skirt-like portion 65 is a wheel 61 the same being mounted in a housing including the parts 5| and 52 above described. In Fig. 5 it will be noted that a cup or ring 65m is bentabout the lugs 59 of part 5| and such part 65d abuts the lowerredge of skirt 65 and such abutting portions may be riveted or otherwise secured together and the joint thus formed is covered by a bumper 68 of heavy rubber or the like. The top4 or cover `housingpart'. 52- has'its lugs 5.1 entering the channels 54 and 55 ofthe part 5| and holding the rubber-bearing-blocks 49 in place and such part :52 is held in place by being engagedby thebed (i2V as-at 63 in Fig. 5..

Forward skatesectionv 60 includes abcd 1Q aboverthe front end portion of which extends a curved guard 1| `and below which extends a skirt portion 12. The Y adjacentA edges vof the portions 10, 1| and -12 abut aspat 13 (Figs. 8 and 9), and are secured together yas byyrivets or the like l1li. A bumper of rubber or the like 15 encloses the joint 13, while a-similar rubber bumper 16 encloses the joint 11l between thetwo companion parts of the toe housing or guard 1|.

Skirt 12 has pockets 18 and 19 opening through its under side and through the'under open ends of which-projectl-the rollers 8|) and 8|. A'I'he pocfkets 18 and 19 receive thehousingparts 5| and 52 and in the case of roller 8|) the, housing part 52 is held down in place since itis engaged by the depressed Vportion 8 2 of the bed 18;- The upper housing'A part zasscciated with roller 8| is kept in place by means o f av luglancedand pressed from the bedr 62 and engaging thetop portion of suchpart as sl'iownwbest in Fig. 9.' Housing parts 5| associated with rollers 8 8 and 8| are secured by portions 12a of the skirt or guard 12. Y, A

Sections 60 and 6| areadiustable towardrand from one another on manipulation of; a, worm 84. Such worm passes I tlnoughR afvlug 86 on =section 60 and the worm is xed topa lug81 carried by section fl. The forward bedrportion of, section 60 is depressed i0 mim. a strapelike portion 88 (see Fig. 8) to extend beneath theforward portionY o f skate section. 6| and sectionl!) has, lugs 89 lanced and pressed therefrom toextend-over the forward portionpf thebed 62 ofsection 6|. In this way the intermediate portionsofi the sectionsl are held against any relativevertical movements'but yet may have a telescopic movement. y Ctbviouslycnl turningofv screw 84 in one direction the sections will be cira\ vv11 toward one another to shorten the, skate anden turning of the screw in the opposite direction the parts are forced, from one anothertto lengthen the skate.

A shaft 96 vextendstransversely oftheskate atr the undersideof section. 60 and is mounted as by lugs 9| lanced and pressedfrom the bed 'l0.

Shaft 90 carries algear 92) heldagainstgcasual backward movement kby a pawl 9.3 and-meshing withthe shaft or screw 84 whereby o rrturningV of shaft 9i)v the screwu84 is rotated. Qne'endgf shaft 90 is carried to an opening 94 in the skirt portion 12 and such end of the Shaft is shaped to be received in the socket 38 of tool 39 for turning of the shaft.

A reflector 95 may be mounted in the rear side of the skirt portion 65 and somewhat similarly a lens 1B is arranged in the forward side of the toe guard ll. In the rear of such lens is a bulb 91 connected as by wires S8 with a dynamo 99 the pulley |50 of which is engaged and driven by the periphery of the wheel 80. Obviously with this arrangement the bulb 91 will be energized only while the wheel 80 is in motion.

Having thus set forth the nature of my invention, what I claim is:

l. In a skate, a body including an upper surface, ground engaging rollers at the under side of said body, a guard secured to said body and depending at the lower side thereof, said guard comprising a hollow shell open at its upper side tward said body and having a roller receiving opening in its lower wall through which one of said rollers projects, a housing, bearing means in said housing in which said roller is mounted, and means mounting said housing in said guard adjacent said opening whereby the front and side walls of said guard enclose and conceal said housing, bearing means and a larger portion of said` roller. 4

2. In a skate, a body including a platform-like portion, ground engaging rollers at the under side of said body, a shell-like guard member open at its upper side and including front, bottom and side walls, said guard having an opening in its bottom wall through which said roller projects, a second shell-like guard member open at its lower side and including front, top and side walls and open at its rear for the reception of the toe portion of a shoe, and means securing the upper edge of said first mentioned guard and the lower edge of the second mentioned guard to the edge portions of said platform-like portion of the skate body.

The combination as in claim 2 including means enclosing and concealing the connections between said guards and the platform-like portion of said body, and said means including an outer heavy rubber bumper strip disposed about the front and sides of the skate.

4. In a skate, a body, a roller at the lower side of said body, a shaft carrying said roller and projecting at each side thereof, bushings receiving the ends of said shaft, rubber'blocks in which said bushings are embedded, a lower housing member including spaced side walls, vertically disposed channels in said walls and receiving said blocks with said roller projecting through the lower end of the housing, an upper housing member disposed over said lower housing member and held in relation thereto by engagement with the skate body, and projections on vsaid upper housing member and entering said channels and maintaining said blocks in position therein,

5. In a skate, a body including an upper platform-like surface, a shell-like guard open at its lower side and including front, top and side walls, said guard having its open lower side disposed against said body and having its rear side open to receive the toe of a shoe, a pair of clamps disposed on said body within said guard for clamping the sole of the toe portion of a shoe, and means to move said clamps toward and from one another for clamping and releasing the sole of a shoe. A

ALEXANDER L. FLAMM. 

